Kenilworth and Southam Liberal Democrats

County Council refuses permission for Waste Plant at Long Itchington.

Following months of campaigning opposition to proposals for a large waste process plant, the planning application was refused at a meeting of the Regulatory Committee of Warwickshire County Council on 17 November. The meeting took place in the council chamber in front of nearly a hundred members of the public who heard representations from local people and local councillors of all parties. Particular praise was directed at Nigel Rock who made the speech which seemed to be a telling factor with the Committee, a number of whom quoted from his speech when deliberating on the matter. Nigel had carried out a great deal of research on the implications of transport, although detail had to be severely limited to keep within the three minutes allotted for speakers.

The committee decided the plant should be at the alternative site of Rugby rather than Long Itchington. The Cemex MBT (Mechanical Biological Treatment) plant is designed to receive domestic and other wastes and process them into fuel (called "Climafuel") to be burnt in the Cement Plant at Rugby. Nigel's speech pointed out the importance of environmental considerations in reaching a decision.

Nigel said: "I am pleased that the team effort produced a decision against the site at Long Itchington. Communities at Marton, Princethorpe, Stretton, Dunchurch and Ryton will feel a great sense of relief at the Council's decision, as well as residents in the villages around the Long Itchington site."

Nigel also says "There were considerable uncertainties about processes which draw on the energy bearing part of waste, because increased recycling removes much of the material like plastic, paper and cardboard. The proposed Cemex MBT plants would compete for that proportion of wastes that might otherwise be destined for incineration at a new plant in Coventry. The reduction in that type of waste also presents questions for an MBT plant at Rugby, but the considerable extra traffic and miles travelled by road transport had the plant been located at Long Itchington, made that proposal totally untenable. "

Some quotes about Nigel Rock

"Dear Nigel, It has been such a whirlwind since the Climafuel decisions were made that I am a bit behind on my thanks, but I have to say how impressed we have been by your support throughout the process and your contribution today was the icing on the cake! I will be dreaming of the 'proximity principle' this evening." Many thanks. -

DF - Marton

"Nigel for prime minister! Well done." - LG Southam

"May I say how much we at L.I. have appreciated the cooperation and teamwork afforded by our neighbouring councillors. With that sort of help anything is achievable! - DC - Long Itchington

"Nigel, Well done to you for all your efforts. I'm sure it would have been far more difficult to win this without your knowledge of the issue and the ways of councils, and your tenacity. What an excellent councillor you are! Thank you." - JB - Southam

The full text of Nigel's speech in the council chamber follows.

"We would all, no doubt, support the principal of energy from waste which cannot be reused or recycled - but, improved recycling removes much of the type of material from waste that contains energy.

Recycling improvements may call into question large scale energy from waste, but I want to comment on the alternative sites of Rugby and Southam. The "Southam" site, in fact straddles Long Itchington, Southam and Stockton parishes and I am the District Councillor for Stockton and Napton.

Whilst the two sites may have their various advantages and disadvantages, the main purpose here is one of environmental improvement and it's that I want to talk about.

It is obvious that the best environmental benefit will come from minimising movement of waste and fuel - the proximity principle. This means processing the waste where the output fuel will be used and locating the plant reasonably centrally from where the waste would come. The proximity principle should rule unless there is an overwhelming argument to do otherwise. There is no such overwhelming argument.

It is obvious that transport links are inferior at the Southam site and the distances involved greater. Specialist vehicle types mean separate movements for waste, "climafuel" out, and empty trucks, so good road links and preferably rail links, should be nearby.

Others have commented about the poor single carriageway rural roads around the Southam site. Many of those people are here.

Whilst it is clear that the transport distance of Climafuel product would be near zero if co-located at Rugby Cement works, the source of the incoming waste requires an analysis to establish the mileages. Waste sources from domestic and commercial properties are found more closely distributed around the Rugby site - as comments in your report - top of page 16.

An objective numerical analysis, made with the help of Stratford district council officers, was submitted by me in August.

Using verified sources and mapping data, the calculation predicts that Southam would add 56,000km extra for collection of waste and 207,000km for transport of Climafuel each year as a probable minimum.

A decision to favour the Southam site over Rugby will add millions of truck miles causing more than10 thousand tonnes of avoidable CO2 to go into the environment over the lifetime of the plant.

One further plea. Don't leave the whole thing hanging in uncertainty and don't leave it to Cemex - it is not right that a commercial company makes a decision like this purely in their own interests instead of in a democratic forum. Please, You make the decision on behalf of the public and communities. Thank you."